Title: Anti-Cache Kit
Author: Fernando Tellado
Published: September 6, 2025
Last modified: April 2, 2026
---
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# Anti-Cache Kit
By [Fernando Tellado](https://profiles.wordpress.org/fernandot/)
[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/anticache.4.1.0.zip)
[Live Preview](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/anticache/?preview=1)
* [Details](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/anticache/#description)
* [Reviews](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/anticache/#reviews)
* [Installation](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/anticache/#installation)
* [Development](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/anticache/#developers)
[Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/)
## Description
**Anti-Cache Kit** is a development tool for WordPress developers and designers
who need to bypass all caching and optimization mechanisms during development, testing,
or troubleshooting.
**Development tool only. Do not leave active on production sites.**
#### Key features
**Cache and optimization management**
* Automatically detects and flushes 16+ cache plugins
* Deactivates optimization plugins that interfere with debugging (Perfmatters,
FlyingPress, WP Asset CleanUp, and more)
* Clears object cache (Redis, Memcached) and OPcache
* Clears hosting-specific caches (SiteGround, Cloudflare, Kinsta)
* Prevents browser caching for administrators
**Server-level cache prevention**
* Automatic timestamped backup of .htaccess before any modification
* Injects .htaccess rules to disable SiteGround cache via environment variables
* Sets no-cache, no-store headers at server level for all visitors
* Disables ETags and mod_expires to prevent conditional caching
* Sends CDN/proxy bypass headers (X-Accel-Expires, Surrogate-Control)
* Automatically restores original .htaccess on plugin deactivation
**Debug mode activation**
* Automatic timestamped backup of wp-config.php before any modification
* Comments out conflicting definitions with visible markers instead of deleting
them
* Enables WP_DEBUG, WP_DEBUG_LOG, and SCRIPT_DEBUG (errors go to wp-content/debug.
log)
* Disables WordPress cache (WP_CACHE = false)
* Safely modifies wp-config.php using WordPress Filesystem API
* Restores original wp-config.php from backup on plugin deactivation (plain copy,
no processing)
* Timestamped backups are kept for reference until the plugin is deleted
**Maintenance mode**
* Optional status page for non-logged visitors
* Quick toggle from admin bar
* Customizable via filter hook
* Self-contained output with aggressive cache prevention headers (503, no-store,
Surrogate-Control)
#### Supported cache plugins
* WP Rocket
* W3 Total Cache
* WP Super Cache
* WP Fastest Cache
* LiteSpeed Cache
* SiteGround Optimizer
* WP Optimize
* Hummingbird (WPMU DEV)
* Breeze (Cloudways)
* Autoptimize
* Cache Enabler
* Surge
* Redis Object Cache
* Powered Cache
* Comet Cache
* Swift Performance
#### Supported optimization plugins
* Perfmatters
* FlyingPress
* WP Asset CleanUp
* Object Cache 4 Everyone
* Zero Config Performance (WPO Tweaks)
* Clearfy
#### Supported hosting caches
* SiteGround (via .htaccess environment variables and plugin API)
* Cloudflare (both new and legacy namespaces)
* Kinsta
* Generic hosting cache systems
### Developer Information
#### Hooks and Filters
* `ayudawp_anticache_maintenance_data` – Filter to customize maintenance page data(
heading, status, message, retry)
* `ayudawp_anticache_cache_plugins` – Filter to modify the list of supported cache
and optimization plugins
#### Constants
* `AYUDAWP_ANTICACHE_VERSION` – Plugin version
* `AYUDAWP_ANTICACHE_PLUGIN_DIR` – Plugin directory path
* `AYUDAWP_ANTICACHE_PLUGIN_URL` – Plugin directory URL
* `AYUDAWP_ANTICACHE_PLUGIN_BASENAME` – Plugin basename for hooks
#### Code examples
Customize maintenance page:
```
add_filter( 'ayudawp_anticache_maintenance_data', function( $data ) {
$data['heading'] = 'My Site Name';
$data['status'] = 'Updating...';
$data['message'] = 'We are deploying a new version. Back in a few minutes.';
return $data;
} );
```
Add a custom cache plugin:
```
add_filter( 'ayudawp_anticache_cache_plugins', function( $plugins ) {
$plugins['my-cache/my-cache.php'] = array(
'name' => 'My Cache Plugin',
'type' => 'cache',
);
return $plugins;
} );Support
```
#### Need help or have suggestions?
* [Official website](https://servicios.ayudawp.com/)
* [WordPress support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/)
* [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/AyudaWordPressES)
* [Documentation and tutorials](https://ayudawp.com/)
**Love the plugin?** Please leave us a 5-star review and help spread the word!
### About AyudaWP
We are specialists in WordPress security, SEO, and performance optimization plugins.
We create tools that solve real problems for WordPress site owners while maintaining
the highest coding standards and accessibility requirements.
## Screenshots
* [[
* Admin dashboard with status overview and quick actions
* [[
* Detailed activation notice showing all changes made
* [[
* Professional maintenance page for visitors
* [[
* Unified admin bar indicator with maintenance toggle
* [[
* Disabled plugins information panel
## Installation
1. Upload the plugin files to `/wp-content/plugins/anticache/` directory
2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
3. The plugin will automatically flush caches, enable debug mode, and inject .htaccess
rules
4. Visit Tools > Anti-Cache Kit to manage options
5. **Important**: Deactivate when finished developing
## FAQ
### Is this safe to use on a live website?
Yes, with caveats. PHP-level anti-cache measures only affect administrators. However,
the .htaccess rules affect all visitors to ensure complete cache bypass. Use maintenance
mode to show a status page to visitors during development. Always deactivate when
finished.
### Why does it deactivate optimization plugins?
Optimization plugins like Perfmatters, FlyingPress, and WP Asset CleanUp modify
how CSS, JS, and other assets are loaded. During debugging, you need to see the
unmodified output to identify issues. These plugins are temporarily deactivated.
Reactivate them manually from the Plugins page when you are done.
### What happens to my wp-config.php and .htaccess?
Both files are automatically backed up with timestamps before modification. When
you deactivate the plugin, originals are restored from backup. Backups are kept
for reference in the plugin’s backup/ directory until the plugin is deleted.
### Why does maintenance mode not show in incognito?
Version 4.0 injects .htaccess rules that disable server-level caching and sends
aggressive cache-busting headers (including CDN and proxy bypass headers) to ensure
the maintenance page is always served correctly.
### Can I customize the maintenance page?
Yes. Use the `ayudawp_anticache_maintenance_data` filter to customize heading, status
text, message, and retry text.
### Can I add support for custom cache plugins?
Yes. Use the `ayudawp_anticache_cache_plugins` filter to add entries to the plugin
list.
## Reviews
### [Essential for maintenance](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/essential-for-maintenance/)
[Alvaro Torres](https://profiles.wordpress.org/algato333/) January 16, 2026 1 reply
An essential tool
### [Good for maintenance](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/good-for-maintenance/)
[Héctor Tellado](https://profiles.wordpress.org/hectortellado/) January 12, 2026
When cache plugins gives problems or cache feels like it is doing weird things it
works great
### [Útil, rápido y directo](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/util-rapido-y-directo/)
[Luis Rull](https://profiles.wordpress.org/luisrull/) September 9, 2025 1 reply
Casi obligatorio cuando estás arreglando algo en un proyecto de manera puntual…
Estoy convencido de que será muy útil para tareas más complejas o largas.
### [Very good](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/very-good-7647/)
[Tommaso G. Scibilia](https://profiles.wordpress.org/masino1967/) September 7,
2025 1 reply
Very good plugin
[ Read all 4 reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/reviews/)
## Contributors & Developers
“Anti-Cache Kit” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.
Contributors
* [ Fernando Tellado ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/fernandot/)
* [ Ayuda WordPress ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ayudawp/)
“Anti-Cache Kit” has been translated into 2 locales. Thank you to [the translators](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/anticache/contributors)
for their contributions.
[Translate “Anti-Cache Kit” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/anticache)
### Interested in development?
[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/anticache/), check
out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/anticache/), or subscribe
to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/anticache/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/anticache/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).
## Changelog
#### 4.1.0
* Fixed duplicate definitions in wp-config.php causing PHP notices on repeated
activations
* Fixed orphaned if ( ! defined() ) blocks and blank lines in wp-config.php after
activation
* Fixed wp-config.php restore losing user’s original debug and cache definitions
* Fixed MIME type console errors caused by cache-busting applied to non-asset URLs
* Conflicting definitions are now commented out with [Anti-Cache Kit] marker instead
of deleted
* wp-config.php restore is now a plain file copy from backup with no processing
* WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY set to false: errors go to debug.log instead of displaying on
screen
* SCRIPT_DEBUG added to managed constants: commented out on activation, set to
true for development
* Timestamped backups for both wp-config.php and .htaccess (e.g. wp-config-20260402-
143025.bak)
* Backups preserved on deactivation for reference (removed only on plugin deletion)
* Fallback restore that uncomments marked lines when no backup is available
* Legacy backup filename detection for upgrades from older versions
#### 4.0.1
Tested up to WordPress 7.0
#### 4.0.0
* Renamed from “Anti-Cache Emergency Kit” to “Anti-Cache Kit”
* Complete UI redesign with dark card theme on WordPress default background
* Added optimization plugin deactivation (Perfmatters, FlyingPress, WP Asset CleanUp,
Object Cache 4 Everyone, WPO Tweaks, Clearfy)
* Added server-level .htaccess anti-cache rules (SiteGround env vars, browser cache
headers, ETags, mod_expires)
* Added automatic .htaccess backup and restoration on deactivation
* Added early cache-busting headers at plugins_loaded for hosting-level bypass
* Added CDN/proxy bypass headers (X-Accel-Expires, Surrogate-Control, Vary)
* Detailed, AJAX-dismissible activation notice showing all changes made
* Unified admin bar indicator with maintenance toggle and settings dropdown
* All CSS and JS moved to external files in /assets/ directory
* Removed all emoji from code and translation strings
* Self-contained maintenance page with site name as heading and aggressive cache
prevention
* Added support for Powered Cache, Comet Cache, and Swift Performance
* Added Kinsta hosting cache clearing
* Implemented ayudawp_anticache_cache_plugins filter
* Added AyudaWP promotional banner with plugin recommendations
* Fixed maintenance page not visible in incognito
* Fixed admin notice persistence
* Improved responsive layout for all screen sizes
#### 3.0.5
* Updated Cloudflare integration to use new namespace (Cloudflare for WordPress
v4.14.0+)
* Maintained backwards compatibility with legacy namespace
#### 3.0.3
* Added automatic backup of wp-config.php before modifications
* Added WP_CACHE = false to disable WordPress cache
#### 3.0
* Added comprehensive admin management panel
* Added optional maintenance mode for non-logged users
* Added support for more cache plugins
* Added object cache clearing
#### 1.0
* Initial release
## Meta
* Version **4.1.0**
* Last updated **2 days ago**
* Active installations **Fewer than 10**
* WordPress version ** 5.0 or higher **
* Tested up to **7.0**
* PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
* Languages
* [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/anticache/), [Spanish (Chile)](https://cl.wordpress.org/plugins/anticache/),
and [Spanish (Spain)](https://es.wordpress.org/plugins/anticache/).
* [Translate into your language](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/anticache)
* Tags
* [cache](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/cache/)[debug](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/debug/)
[development](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/development/)[maintenance](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/maintenance/)
[troubleshooting](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/troubleshooting/)
* [Advanced View](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/anticache/advanced/)
## Ratings
5 out of 5 stars.
* [ 4 5-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/reviews/?filter=5)
* [ 0 4-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/reviews/?filter=4)
* [ 0 3-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/reviews/?filter=3)
* [ 0 2-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/reviews/?filter=2)
* [ 0 1-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/reviews/?filter=1)
[Add my review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/reviews/#new-post)
[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/reviews/)
## Contributors
* [ Fernando Tellado ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/fernandot/)
* [ Ayuda WordPress ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ayudawp/)
## Support
Got something to say? Need help?
[View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/anticache/)